FIFA now pleased with TT’s hosting of Under-17 W/CupBy JOEL BAILEY Thursday, September 2 2010
THE WORLD governing body for football FIFA had expressed mixed feelings over the preparations by hosts Trinidad and Tobago for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup from September 5 to 25.
Making this pronouncement was FIFA vice-president Jack Austin Warner, during an interview at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya, where he attended yesterday’s launch of the FIFA-CONCACAF Women’s Football Regional Coaching Course.
“Preparations have now begun to go pretty well,” said Warner.
“I must confess that there has been much disappointment by both FIFA and myself over the pace of development, the pace of preparation.
“But, I think, having met with FIFA yesterday morning, they have expressed some pleasure and the pace has picked up. Everyone is hopeful, very optimistic, that come Sunday, things can take place,” he said.
On a positive note, Warner commented that the FIFA hierarchy “is now beginning to express some pleasure and contentment over the fact that they are seeing some exposure of the national team on the media.
“They are also quite happy with the kind of training we have given the team to-date and the fact that they have been able to beat Ireland. That was great news for them.
“They are pleased with the hotel accommodation, which we have provided,” Warner continued. “They are pleased with the hospitality arrangements at the airport. So, generally speaking, there are some areas where they have been extremely pleased.
“The areas where they are pleased are the areas which we have some control, the areas which we have no control, like the playing surfaces and facilities and so on, they have expressed almost disgust and displeasure,” he ended.
When asked about the areas that continue to require urgent attention, Warner responded: “The main things are the playing surface, dressing rooms, the media centres, the VIP areas. “In one of the stadiums, the PA system is not working,” he revealed.
“A host of issues which, if these facilities have been maintained, this should never have happened. What we are experiencing here is the result of gross neglect on behalf of the previous administration,” he said. Warner emphasised that he will be stressing for proper maintenance of the five major stadia – Hasely Crawford in Mucurapo, Larry Gomes in Malabar, Ato Boldon in Couva, Manny Ramjohn in Marabella and Dwight Yorke in Tobago – by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.
“The ministry has to become involved in maintaining the venues,” Warner said.
“And, if the ministry cannot maintain the venues, then give it out to some company, on behalf of the ministry.
“Government must divest itself from doing these things and give it out to private enterprise,” continued the top football administrator and Government minister.
“Let people do it and pay them according to how they perform. “But you cannot have a system where these things are neglected and, afterwards, you need to spend millions of dollars to bring them up to date.”
